Linn County, Oregon

History

On December 28, 1847, the Provisional Legislature created Linn County from the southern portion of Champoeg (later Marion) County. The boundaries were altered in 1851 and 1854 with the creation of Lane and Wasco Counties. The county seat was originally located in Calapooia (later known as Brownsville), but in 1851 the Territorial Legislature passed an act establishing Albany as the county seat. A special election in 1856 reaffirmed Albany as the county seat.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2309 sqmi, of which 2290 sqmi is land and 19 sqmi (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Polk County (northwest)
• Marion County (north)
• Jefferson County (east)
• Deschutes County (southeast)
• Lane County (south)
• Benton County (west)

National protected area

• Willamette National Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 128,610. Of the residents, 21.9% were under the age of 18 and 19.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males. 65.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 34.2% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.7% from some other race, and 9.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.8% of the population.

There were 49,344 households in the county, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 51,921 housing units, of which 5.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.1% were owner-occupied and 33.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 116,672 people, 45,204 households, and 30,976 families living in the county. The population density was 50.9 PD/sqmi. There were 48,821 housing units at an average density of 21.3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.6% white, 1.3% American Indian, 1.0% Asian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.3% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.9% were German, 14.1% were English, 12.7% were Irish, and 7.1% were American.

Of the 45,204 households, 32.1% had children under age 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,832 and the median income for a family was $55,320. Males had a median income of $44,450 versus $32,055 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,165. About 11.0% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 103,069 people, 39,541 households, and 28,232 families living in the county. The population density was 45 /mi2. There were 42,521 housing units at an average density of 19 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.20% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.80% from other races, and 2.49% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.2% were of German, 13.0% American, 11.2% English and 8.6% Irish ancestry.

There were 39,541 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,518, and the median income for a family was $44,188. Males had a median income of $35,586 versus $24,073 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,633. About 8.90% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Principal industries are wood products, agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Linn County's economy relies heavily on the lumber and wood products industry; in 1990, this industry accounted for 40% of the county's manufacturing jobs. The climate and soil conditions provide one of Oregon's most diversified agriculture areas, allowing a wide variety of specialty crops such as common and perennial ryegrass. Linn County is also home to the only emery mine in the United States, and the production of manufactured and motor homes.

Natural history

A variety of flora and fauna occur in Linn County. Fauna include mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Trees include a variety of oaks and conifers as well as other species such as Salix sessilifolia. The Rough-skinned Newt is a common amphibian occurring in the oak woodlands of the county.

Carpenter Mountain, one of the highest points in the western Cascades is located in Linn County, although road access to the peak is only possible through Lane County.

Government and politics

Linn County has only supported a Democrat for president four times since 1920, and only twice since 1940. Jimmy Carter is the last Democrat to carry the county, in 1976. In 2012 Mitt Romney won 56.28 percent to incumbent president Obama's 39.63 percent, and Obama's 2008 result of 42.64 percent is the best by a Democrat since Michael Dukakis in a 1988 election affected by a major drought.

In January 2013, Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller gained national attention for a letter he sent to then Vice-president Joe Biden, informing Biden that he [Mueller] would not enforce any federal firearms laws he considered to be "offending the constitutional rights of my citizens." He further stated that he would not permit federal officers to come to his county to enforce such laws.

Communities

Cities

• Albany (county seat) (part)
• Brownsville
• Gates (part)
• Halsey
• Harrisburg
• Idanha (part)
• Lebanon
• Lyons
• Mill City (part)
• Millersburg
• Scio
• Sodaville
• Sweet Home
• Tangent
• Waterloo

Census-designated places

• Cascadia
• Crabtree
• Crawfordsville
• Holley
• Lacomb
• Peoria
• Shedd
• South Lebanon
• West Scio

Unincorporated communities

• Berlin
• Calapooia
• Cascadia
• Crabtree
• Crawfordsville
• Foster
• Fox Valley
• Holley
• Jordan
• Kingston
• Lacomb
• Marion Forks
• Peoria
• Riverside
• Santiam Junction
• Shedd
• Shelburn
• West Scio

Former communities

• Burlington
• Orleans
• Rowland
• Syracuse
• Tallman
• Thomas

Education

School districts covering sections of the county include:

• Central Linn School District 552
• Corvallis School District 509J
• Eugene School District 4J
• Greater Albany School District 8J
• Harrisburg School District 7J
• Jefferson School District 14J
• Lebanon Community School District 9
• North Santiam School District 29J
• Santiam Canyon School District 129J
• Scio School District 95
• Sweet Home School District 55

Most of the county is in the Linn-Benton Community College district. A piece in the southwest is in the Lane Community College district, and a piece to the northeast is in the Chemeketa Community College district.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office.
4. (2010). "Centers of Population by State". United States Census Bureau.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia.
9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 58 - Persons by Race and Table 59 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 39/24-39/32)".
12. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Linn County, Oregon".
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Linn County, Oregon".
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Linn County, Oregon".
16. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
17. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
18. not an option in the 1980 Census
19. not an option in the 1990 Census
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
21. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
22. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
23. (2010). "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. (2010). "2010 County Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. (2010). "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. (2010). "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. Piper, Charles Vancouver. (November 10, 1915). "Flora of the Northwest Coast". New Era Printing Co..
28. Hogan, C. Michael. (2009). "Rough-skinned Newt (''Taricha granulosa'') {{small".
29. "Presidential Election of 1976, by County".
30. "Linn County in 2008 Presidential election".
31. Payne, Ed. (January 16, 2013). "Oregon sheriff: 'Unconstitutional' gun control laws won't be enforced". CNN.
32. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
33. "Geo-elections website".
34. Geography Division. (December 18, 2020). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Linn County, OR". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
35. "Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts".